Exhibitions in Manchester and the North

Sara Jaspan, Exhibitions Editor

Last Updated 12 September 2019

The first UK solo presentation of work by Vivian Suter at Tate Liverpool absolutely tops our pick of exhibition highlights this month. After a period of almost three decades during which she shunned the attention of the art world, the Guatemalan based Swiss-Argentinian artist is making waves once again with her raw, brightly coloured abstracts that capture the light, heat and intensity of life in the heart of the Central American rainforest.

Elizabeth Price’s 2012 Turner Prize winning film, ‘The Woolworths Choir of 1979’, featuring footage from a tragic fire at the Piccadilly Gardens branch of the department store, will be exhibited in Manchester for the first time this October, alongside a wide selection of other new and acclaimed pieces by the artist. Beautiful and Brutal: 50 Years in the life of Preston Bus Station at the Harris will look back over the fascinating history of Lancashire’s most Marmite piece of Modernist social architecture, the recent renovation of which has been longlisted for the ‘UK’s best new building’ RIBA Stirling prize. And The Hepworth Wakefield prepares to present a major exhibition that refocuses our attention on David Hockney’s early career, presenting key works alongside paintings by fellow post-war artist Alan Davie, who served as a crucial inspiration for the young Yorkshire born and bred artist. This will be paired with the first UK solo presentation of work by the LA-based artist Christina Quarles.

Providing an exciting snapshot of what’s to come in the world of British contemporary art, and having boosted the fledgling careers of many now leading international figures over the decades – including Hockney, as well as Damien Hirst, Derek Jarman and Monster Chetwynd – the annual Bloomberg New Contemporaries exhibition is not to be missed. Catch this year’s edition at Leeds Art Gallery, and tie in with a visit to Yorkshire Sculpture International before the festival ends later this month.

Lastly, whether you’re a seasoned professional or haven’t touched a paintbrush in over 20 years, there’s still time to apply for the inaugural Manchester Open Exhibition at HOME, operating under the banner, ‘Everyone’s an Artist’.

More in Exhibitions

Exploring the relationship between art and mindfulness And Breathe… is an exhibition of artworks from Manchester Art Gallery’s collection that explores the relationship between art, positive mental health and wellbeing.

Showcasing furniture, fashion, lighting, ceramics, glass, metalwork and jewellery, Nordic Craft and Design at Manchester Art Gallery highlights the superb quality and creativity inherent in design from the region and features pieces from 1930 to the present day.

Whether Liverpool Biennial 2018 passed you by or you diligently ticked-off every last one of its multiple offerings (if so; bravo), the Liverpool Biennial Northern England Tour seems unlikely to disappoint.

As one of Liverpool’s lesser known gems prepares to reopen its doors for 2019, we look forward to encountering a rare series of photographs only recently discovered by chance in the cluttered darkroom of the Hardmans’ former, perfectly-preserved home.

Award-winning playwright Linda Brogan and a group of local residents who used to attend the Reno nightclub in the 1970s and 80s prepare to occupy the Whitworth for one year. Located in Moss Side, the Reno was known as a space for young mixed-race Mancunians. This living exhibition will tell the story of the club through art and archive materials.

The books are back in September with one-off reading events, some much-anticipated launches and the return of the Northern Lights Writers’ Conference as we gear up for Manchester Literature Festival in October.